The Prayers of the Saints

Dear Friends and Family,

I would like to thank everyone who has been praying for my health these last few days, I really appreciate it so much! The latest in my series of medical misadventures is that I have apparently picked up quite a nasty stomach infection. Coming as it did on top of a bad cold, infected tonsils, and a bout of altitude sickness, it really did seem like the final straw, and much of Friday was spent in wishing that someone would just put me out of my misery. However, late Friday night Carlos took me to the doctors, who got me on some different antibiotics and whatnot, and sooner than was probable, things started to turn around. I really attribute this to all the prayers being said for me, so thank you!

In an effort to keep a cheerful outlook, I was meditating on all the things that I can be grateful for about this latest sickness:

-that Carlos has good friends who are doctors
-that the doctors kept their clinic open late to treat me
-that I didn't end up needing an IV, thanks to prompt treatment
-that the worst of my symptoms stopped unexpectedly on Friday night
-that I can afford medical care
-that I live in an age when we have effective medicines, and therefore shall not die from a stomach infection
-that Carlos takes such good care of me
-that nasty medicines now come in fruit flavours, to increase palatability!

So, on the whole, God is so very, very good. It's so funny - when I hear about other missionaries getting sick far away from their homes, I always think to myself, "I could never endure that, I just couldn't!!" But then it happens to me, and somehow God gives me the grace to get through it.

Prayer Request: TOTAL and COMPLETE healing! Once my antibiotics are finished for this stomach thing, I'll still need to get treatment for my tonsils...and I want to be in tip-top shape for when Matt and Katie come down to visit me!!!

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers,
Love,
Rachael

Weekend in Chile

Dear Everyone,

So, this Monday and Tuesday were Carnaval down here, and in order to avoid getting a severe wetting from the water-balloon-wielding male population of La Paz, I went to Chile with some friends! We went to the coast town of Arica, and seven of us stayed in a little condo by the beach.

Highlights of the weekend: lying on the beach reading a book; eating gelato under a palm tree on an extremely sunny and hot afternoon; seeing a McDonald's again; and lying under the stars at night, listening to the waves coming crashing into the sand.

On Valentine's Day, which to our surprise they do actually celebrate in Chile, all seven of us got dressed up and went into the town to find someplace festive to eat. We were having no luck, but then a sidewalk recruiter told us to follow him, and we went down a side street and found ourselves in the cutest little restaurant, all decorated up for the holiday! We had such a good time, and took more photos than was strictly necessary.

That's about all for now; more about Chile in my next blog!
Love, Rachael

PS - Prayer Request: Although I felt a lot better, health-wise, in gorgeous sea-level Arica, now that I'm back home I'm suffering from altitude sickness. Plus, my cold still will not go away. If you could pray for my health, that would be so wonderful.

Recently...

Hello friends and family!

Recently, I have been doing more paperwork, trying to get that carnet done. However, hopes were dashed yesterday morning, when we learned that to get two major requirements done, my InterPol police check is needed. Said police check will take longer than two weeks. When it is finally handed over, then I can start my other two requirements. Long story short, I am totally busted and will no doubt be fined, because I´ll be at least two or three weeks late with my carnet. Nothing to be done about it, however, except wait!

Recently, I am in the throes of the Head Cold That Wouldn´t Die. It´s been eight days now, and I´ve just passed into the stage of not being able to breathe and eat at the same time, due to major sinus congestion. It´s a blast - every mealtime becomes a fun-filled game of "do I chew with my mouth open, to keep on breathing, or try to be polite and therefore pass out?" Also, certain friends will be pleased to note that I am forced to drink tea for my poor throat.

Recently, Celina and Janelle and I have booked our hotel at a beachside town in Chile! We are going to spend the weekend of Carnaval (coming up soon) in Chile, on the beach, reading and relaxing. We tried this formula out in Copacabana, and it was wonderful. And it is so cheap to travel down here!!

And, recently, I am becoming so so so SO excited about my friend Matt coming down to visit!!! He's coming in March, to stay for at least a couple weeks, and I have no doubt at all that it will be a wonderful time. I think my two main occupations while he is here will be baking and laughing.

Love to all,
Rachael

PS - these are pictures of the goodbye party for Ed, our one-month missionary, who has now returned to the UK.

Visa News

Greetings, loved ones!

So, the exciting news is that I've been issued my 2-year visa, good until December 2011! My passport is back where it belongs, with me - not serving as a doorstop at Immigration, which is where I fancy they put it when it's awaiting "just one more signature."

However, I have been given 25 days to follow up with that and get my carnet, or else there are presumably dire consequences. The "carnet" is an identification card, everyone needs one for performing a variety of business transactions. To get a carnet, though, I need to go get a certificate of good behavior from one governmental authority, and I have to once again do a "domiciliario" to prove where I live.

This last, the domiciliario, proved very difficult last time. You need to get a police officer to accompany you to your home, where you have assembled two witnesses from the neighbourhood who can testify that you do indeed live where you say you do. They have to go through a rigamarole of signing things and all that. Last year, there were needless delays and broken appointments and all manner of nonsense. Hopefully it will be more straightforward this year.

If you could join me in prayer that I could get everything in order in the required 25 days, that would be swell.

Lots of love,
Rachael

Life Starts Again

Dearly Beloved,

Well, last Sunday Carlos and Jeremy returned to La Paz! It's so nice to not be living alone anymore! I was so excited that I got up early and made them a nice breakfast, even though they got in at about 7 am. I pumped them for information about all my friends and family in Canada, and was very jealous that they got to see everyone :)

Since then, things are back to normal. I tutor Elisa three mornings a week, and work with Jer less and less in the afternoons. Carlos and I have started jogging again three mornings a week - although our running track has been severely disrupted by a huge chunk of it falling into the river it runs beside. We kind of have to detour now, and watch our footing.

Wonder of wonders, I am now a part of the worship team down here! It's a pretty small team, and most of the time they don't have a female singer, so I got drafted. Which, in my mind, constitutes a miracle, because I have had a microphone-phobia for a long time. As Beto says, the way to stop being afraid of them is to use them!!! I imagine it must be a little funny for the congregation to hear a gringa singing their worship in a funny accent, but I do my best. I'm just learning so many things down here!!

Love to everyone,
Rachael

Vacation Bible School

Hello, all!

In an effort to take my mind off how impatient I am for Carlos and Jeremy to get back, I have been helping out at my church´s Vacation Bible School. As you may recall or be aware of, it is summer down here, so kids are off of school for quite a while.

I have enjoyed parts of the VBS. Not so much the singing-and-actions part, because I actually get quite out of breath doing that! The altitude is still affecting me strangely. But it's fun meeting more kids from the neighbourhood. In particular, the little fellow in the orange and brown sweater, Brayan, has completely stolen my heart.

For part of the afternoon, we are at the church for singing and the Bible lesson, and then we all hold hands and trot down to the property where our house stands. There is a small soccer field, and also a trampoline, and the kids love to play here. Only one day have we been rained out (it is rainy season).

The other gringo in the photos is a guy from England, Ed, who is here for a month to work with some VBSs around La Paz. He's a natural with the kids!

That's all for now,
Love,
Rachael

The Sign Says It All